Robin Reddy Konakalla`s Perception clearly hasn`t read the script on “competitive racing.” The gelding made his fifth straight win at Malakpet on Monday look like a mild workout in the 1600 metres Sikander-E-Azam Plate, proving that class and confidence go hand-in-hand — and sometimes trot side-by-side. The son of Sedgefield, who climbed a class but not a sweat, was backed as though defeat was out of question. And sure enough, jockey Sai Kumar obliged by merely pointing him in the right direction.

The drama came from elsewhere — Dapper Look was sluggish at the gates , then woke up and hit the front before running out of enthusiasm near the wire. Celestial, the Mumbai import, tried to threaten but was pretty but harmless. Poor Livermore found himself in traffic trouble and ended up rehearsing for a stunt scene; apprentice Sonu Kumar did well to stay in the saddle and finish last without incident — small victories count too.

Sai Kumar, meanwhile, sat chilly at the rear as if auditioning for an ad on calm confidence. Then, with a furlong to go, Perception suddenly found wings, flew past the pack, and finished with two lengths to spare.

Former cricketer-turned-trainer Anant Vatsalya once spun batsmen into confusion with his off-breaks; now he`s doing the same to punters with his training choices. His ward Federer — whose record is as puzzling as a mystery spinner`s grip — had finished 20 lengths behind over nine furlongs in his previous outing. Naturally, he was dropped to five and a half furlongs this time. Because why not?

The strategy worked like a charm. With trusted ally Ajeeth Kumar in the saddle, Federer stayed handy behind Divine Connection, then stormed clear like he had suddenly remembered he was named after a champion. He left Coming Home and Leather Back arguing over who got the consolation medal. At long odds, Federer notched his third career win — each over a different distance, just to keep everyone guessing.

The lower division of the Nawab Mehdi Jung Bahadur Memorial Cup was a thriller — or a comedy, depending on where your money was. Shadow Fax, the second favourite, dashed to the front under Mukesh Kumar and seemed home and dry… until he wasn`t. He started slowing down as if suddenly struck by existential doubt, and Challenger came roaring back, missing the upset by a whisker. Sweet Dancer took third, possibly dancing her way into place money.

Imran Khan-trained Secret Option was the punters` darling in the 1600 metres Goodwood Plate. The horse moved up smoothly and led into the straight — and that`s when optimism took over. But before the champagne could be popped, Hoping High came sneaking up the rails under a determined Gaurav Singh and stole the race by charging ahead and thwarting the strong bid by the favourigte. Secret Option was left wondering what the secret to winning actually is, while Mauser quietly collected third.

Vittal Deshmukh`s Tootsie Darling didn`t believe in drama — she just jumped, ran, and won by seven lengths in the 1200 metres Nizamabad Plate (Div I). It was the racing equivalent of a mic drop.

The Division II turned into a demolition job as Dontblockmyway — clearly inspired by his own name — bulldozed through the field to win by eight lengths under apprentice Sonu Kumar. The hot favourite Hoping Star, backed down to half-money, woke up too late to realise there was a race going on.

Akshay Kumar had his share of joy, though, guiding Mexican Wave to victory in the Division III, holding off Feel The Magic with professional precision. Photograph finished third — a fitting name, since that`s exactly what he`ll be in most race finishes.